Connector-link for chains



W. A. BROWN.

CONNECTOR LINK FOR CHAINS- I APPLICATION man APR. 5. 1921.

1,390,877. Paten e sept. 13,1921.

WITNESSES l8 8 INVENTOR Willa/12d! red row Br J /9 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED BROWN, or mcomv, MAINE.

CONNECTOR-LINK FOR CHAINS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ALFRED BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lincoln, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Connector-Link for Chains, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to a separable link for chains and is more particularly intended for use in connection with tire chains.

The general object of my invention is to provide a link of the indicated type im proved in various particulars-more particularly with respect to the means for looking the swingable elements in the closed position.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a link embodying my invention showing the same open;

F i 2 is a similar view showing the link closed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4,

F11 carrying out my invention in practice I provide two elongated elements 10, 12 pivotally secured adjacent to one end by a rivet 13 or the like. To one element as 10 forward of the pivotal connection with the opposite element 12 and between the ends of said element 10 is pivotally secured a yoke 11 for securin the device to an ordinary chain link indicated by dotted lines A in Fig. 2. The opposite end of my improved link is adapted to enga e another link of a chain as indicated at A One element 10 is made with spaced sides between which the adjacent curved end of the other element 12 is received, the rivet 13 passing through the two sides of the element 10 and the interposed end of the element 12. Said element 10 has the end to which the element 12 is pivoted broadened as at 14 to brace said element 12 and prevent twisting or distortion thereof out of its own plane.

The sides of the element 10 are offset at Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 13, 1921. Application filed April 5, 1921.

Serial No. 458,647.

the front ends the one being of reduced width as at 15 to pass through a transverse opening 16 in the other side so that the two sides cross. Said sides forward of the crossing point are formed into clamp jaws 17, 17 separating by a pressure on the sides 10 rearward of the crossing point and normally tending to assume the closed position. The jaws 17 are provided with fastening means to engage the opposite element 12. In the example shown the jaws 17 17 are indented as at 18 to present protuberances at the inner sides adapted to en age in the recess 19 in the hooked termina 20 of the opposite element 12.

With the above described construction the provision of the locking means directly adjacent to the end terminals of the elements 10, 12 effectively prevents accidental separation, said locking means disengaging automatically when the sides of the elements 10 are pressed together rearward of the crossing point.

The yoke 11 is shown in the illustrated form as pivotally secured by a rivet 21 passing through the sides of the element 10, a spacing seeve 22 being provided on said rivet between said sides.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A link of the class described consisting of two elements pivotally connected adjacent to one end of the link, one of said elements having flat sides broadened adjacent to the pivot, and the other element being disposed between said sides, the sides of the first-mentioned element at that end of the link remote from the pivot terminating in laterally movable jaws, the adjacent end of the other element being accommodated between said jaws and there being co-engaging fastening means on said jaws and on said adjacent end of the other element.

2. A device of the class described including two elements pivotally connected adjacent to an end of said device, one of said elements having spaced sides broadened adjacent to the pivotal connection and receiving the other element therebetween, a yoke pivotally secured to said broadened portions near the front ends of the latter, and jaws on one element at the end remote from the pivot, said jaws being laterally indented to present protuberances at the inner sides 10 thereof and the adjacent end of the other element being returned in hooked form and recessed to receive said protuberances.

WILLIAM ALFRED BROWN. 

